Much hoopla has been circulating about Al-Bayyinah Institute which failed to fulfill their promise of hosting Mufti Ismail Menk in their recent event, Amazed by the Qur’an. It was arguably a substantial breach of contract given that Menk was their selling point. This breach has minimal enforceability if the intervening cause (the so-called ‘ban’ I’m … Continue reading Was He Banned?→

Elia Abu Madi or Elia D. Madey (1889-1957) was a Lebanese-American poet with numerous notable published works. The following is a translation of the first 8 stanzas from his famous work, Al-Tholasim (The Mysteries). The full poem comprises 405 lines. I have translated (at least, attempted to) the following for your convenience. الطلاسم The Mysteries … Continue reading Elia Abu Madi: Tholasim→

Thus reads a motion in a local debate for tertiary-level students (you can see it here). I am admittedly rather fascinated. Especially since it strikes chords that are a little too close to where the bad memories are. Are morals best taught in religious schools? The phrasing of the sentence is, typically, completely ambiguous. Firstly, … Continue reading Are Morals Best Taught in Religious Schools?→

It is very interesting how, when I stop wearing one article of clothing, many seem to assume that I have adopted numerous other habits… you know, things like drinking, promiscuity, Satanism and worst of all, a video game addiction (which I've always had, actually, but you don't know that now). A further inspection of these … Continue reading Unhijabed #4: Submission→

Here I shall recount the essential years of my life that played the biggest role in shaping the ideas I hold so steadfastly to now. This was mainly the period spanning from my early childhood to my graduation from secondary school. My initial contentions with cultural norms resulted as a culmination of the issues I … Continue reading Unhijabed #3 : Background Check (1)→

In recent decades the community I come from has shifted its focus in several aspects. I am being conservative by only referring to my community, when truthfully these shifts have been in lieu with the evolving global environment. We cannot argue that there has been a serious lack of values and an overwhelming sense of … Continue reading Unhijabed #2: Giving Modesty a Name→

I know clear and well this is a precariously controversial angle to take this topic from. I anticipate much outrage to be directed at me henceforth, but I also hope the ones I speak for will find comfort and a supportive soul in me. If you have often dabbled with the idea of putting the … Continue reading Unhijabed #1 : Being ‘Irreligious’→